FoodSafetyHelpline in News & Media

# Look before you eat

Steaming pakodas and piping hot tea from a roadside eatery seem welcome on a rainy day! But wait, look closely at the newspaper the pakodas are wrapped in, and the wax-coated paper cups in which the tea is served. Not just tasty, these delicacies may be layered with slow poison too. Some of our methods to deal with food might not be the safest,” cautions Dr. Saurabh Arora, founder, FoodSafetyHelpline.com, as he enlists a few dangerous situations people tend to overlook.Click here to read more

# Do you know what your chewing gum contains?

It has been found that chewing gum contains lanolin, which is a waxy secretion from the sebaceous glands of the skin of sheep. Its function is tomake sheep’s wool waterproof. For this reason, lanolin is generally an ingredient in skin products, which is fine. But using it as an ingredient in chewing gum? Click here to read more

# Beware of microbial, chemical contamination in juices

Saurabh Arora, founder of FoodSafetyHelpline.com, and Pawan Vats, Vice President at Auriga Research (service provider of pharmaceutical testing, food testing and herbal testing), have listed a few pointers one must keep in mind: Click here to read more

# Does your breakfast cereal lie to you?

Breakfast cereal is a food item made from processed grains and consumed as the first meal of the day.It involves processing of the grains into fine flour before cooking. The flour may be mixed with water, sugar or chocolate. This is followed by a process known as extrusion, which shapes the cereal at high temperatures using a special machine. The cereals are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. They may be flaked, shredded or puffed during processing. Click here to read more

# Food Regulations—What is the Current Scenario in India?

In India the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) is the apex food regulator. It is empowered by and functions under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI implements and enforces food regulations as prescribed in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act). Click here to read more

# India’s Water Challenges

Access to clean drinking water is a human right, however, providing safe drinking water to India’s teeming millions is a challenge of no small proportion. According to a report by WaterAid, an international organization working to provide water sanitation and hygiene, more than 80 percent of India’s surface water is polluted. Click here to read more

# Is gifting dry fruits on Diwali a healthy idea?

With Diwali approaching, supermarkets and retail stores are full of attractive food product displays. Looking at the vast array of food items, consumers have a hard time deciding what to buy and which product to opt for as a Diwali gift. At one time it was easy to just buy traditional sweets but now they are low on the list of consumers because of innumerable complaints of adulteration and substandard quality. Instead, dried fruits have now taken centre stage both as a gifting choice as well as a healthy option to bring home for the Diwali celebrations. Click here to read more

# Store smart, eat fresh in monsoon

The monsoon provides relief from heat to everyone. This is a time for enjoyment and fun and frolic, especially for children who tend to enjoy the rains. It is also a time to be extra careful about infections, in particular, gastrointestinal infections. Many scientific studies have shown that a number of infectious diseases, including some diarrheal diseases, exhibit a seasonal variation, peaking in the rainy season. Click here to read more

# Holi 2016: How to tell if your thandai is contaminated!

Holi marks the end of winter chills and the beginning of spring. It is a time for spreading festive cheer and color among friends and family. It goes without saying that Holi celebrations are incomplete without mouth-watering treats like gujiya, thandai, peda and matthi. But thandai, which is one of the most popular drinks, is at risk of adulteration.. Click here to read more

# Thinking of Opening a Restaurant? Here’s What You Should Know About Various Licences

According to a report, the restaurant industry in India is growing at the rate of 7% of which the organized sector is growing more rapidly at 16% as compared to the unorganized sector. Out of the 1.5 million eating outlets, only a very small fraction of outlets are part of the organized sector. The organized segment is slated to reach Rs.22, 000 crore by 2017. Quick service restaurants will show maximum growth followed by casual dining, cafes and fine dining. Click here to read more

#How To Open A Restaurant

Want to open a restaurant? Founder of FoodSafetyHelpline.com, Dr Saurabh Arora, shares what you need to know about various licensing requirements. Click here to read more

# Lessons from Maggi noodles misfortune

Nestle claimed that Maggi Instant Noodles with Taste Maker was safe, as did some of the states that carried out food safety tests. Yet Maggi suffered an Instant ban. In the process, Nestle has sustained huge financial losses and a blow to its reputation. It remains to be seen whether Maggi will be able to regain its status as the nation’s best instant food. Click here to read more

# Saurabh Arora: Could Nestle’s Maggi fiasco have been prevented?

With the crackdown on the FMCG and dairy sector, do you expect food safety norms to be stricter in India? Is it a wake-up call for food manufacturing companies? he food safety regulations are already in place and the cornerstone of these regulations is self-compliance as per schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act). Click here to read more